Amendments tabled by the Patriots for Europe (PFE) group to the European Parliament's report on Draft amending budget No 1/2026 would reject the introduction of new own resources and instead prioritise recovering revenue lost to fraud and weak enforcement. The three amendments, dated 1 July 2026, propose new recitals that shift the budget debate from fiscal innovation to fiscal discipline.
Amendment 4 explicitly states that new own resources would impose an "additional and unjustified burden" on citizens and businesses, arguing that the EU must first ensure effective collection of existing resources. Amendment 5 cites the European Public Prosecutor's Office 2025 Annual Report, noting that fraud affecting VAT and customs duties caused an estimated €45.01 billion in damage from ongoing investigations. Amendment 6 targets weak customs controls, particularly in ports, which it says cost the EU budget billions annually and could be addressed through more systematic enforcement.
The amendments, tabled by MEPs Julien Sanchez, Tomasz Buczek, and Angéline Furet, are proposed changes to the report by the Committee on Budgets. They have not been voted on and remain proposals to be examined and decided in committee and plenary. The underlying report concerns the Council's position on using the 2025 surplus to adjust the 2026 budget.
If adopted, the amendments would directly oppose the long-standing EU institutional goal of diversifying budget revenue through new sources such as a digital levy or carbon border adjustment mechanism. The PFE's position would benefit EU taxpayers and businesses by avoiding new taxes, but could pressure the European Commission and national customs authorities to strengthen enforcement and anti-fraud measures. The European Public Prosecutor's Office and customs agencies would face increased scrutiny and operational demands. The Council and Parliament will need to reconcile these divergent approaches in upcoming negotiations.